Transmission line tool



[April 13', 1943. D, c. HUBBARD TRANSMlSS ION LINE TOOL Filed oct. 9', 1941 I2v Sheets-Sheet 1 April 13, 11943- D. c. HUBBARD v2,316,243

TRANSMIS SION LINE TOOL i Filed 0012. 9, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 j* .5" ze. 11.2 /yif n 6. 109 16H l j@ 4 60 'KN l' gm l (la 73 l JIJ ll;i\|`| da i 10j' j ,f

I l 10o l I 106,/1/ i Y I A10.2 ,f Y 'zzdgzozj 10J.. n -f/l//l az/H'Mera? Patented Apr. 13, 1943 TRANSMISSION LINE TOOL `David C. Hubbard, Centralia, Mo., assigner to A. B. Chance Company,

poration of Missouri Centralita Mo., a cor- Application October 9, 1941, Serial No. 414,223`

Claims.

The present invention relates to transmission line tools, and is particularly concerned with the provision of improved types of wrenches adapted to be used in connection with standard sockets for actuating threaded members on the connectors or the pole insulators of high transmission lines.

One of the objects of the inventionis the provision of an improved wrench for use on high voltage transmission lines, by means of which nuts or other threaded members on connectorsor other devices carried by the line conductors may be driven home or removed while the line is energized, irrespective of the angular position in which the threaded members are located.

Another object ofthe invention is the provision of a, wrench of the class described which is adapted to be used for tightening nuts or removing them or for actuating other threaded members on high voltage transmission lines, and which has provision for exerting a still more powerful effort by locking the rotating mechanism and turning the threaded member directly by revolutionary movement of the handle.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a wrench of the class described which is safe, durable, dependable, adapted to operate without any binding, and adapted to be manufactured' at a low cost.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a wrench of the class described which is adapted to be used with its driven end in any of a multiplicity of diierent angular positions with respect to the driving end so that no matter what position the operator may find himself in, the wrench may be so adjusted as to exert a positive rotative force on a threaded member carried by the line.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description `and the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, of which there are two sheets,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a transmission line, showing an insulator provided with a line clampI secured by bolts and nuts, illustrating the application of the wrench to one of the nuts;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in perspective of `the upper end of the tool;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View, taken on the plane `passing through the axis of the driving and driven shafts, with the shaftsin elevation, showing the details of -construction of the tool;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of a modification in which the tool iitting is provided with a universal flange for attachment to a `universal pole;

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 3 of another modication provided with positive means for locking both shafts to the pole;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on the plane of the line B-S of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view, taken on the plane of the line 1--1 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view, taken on the plane of the line 8-8 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows. -1 p Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, Il) indicates in its entirety the improved line tool, which preferably comprisesan elongated insulating pole I I of wood or other suitable material, and atool fitting l2 carried by the upper end of the pole. I3 indicates a standard wrench tube of the type having a non-circular socket in each end, such as, `for example, a square socket or a hexagonal socket, or the tube I3 may have a hexagonal socket in its lower end and a square socket in its upper end.

I4 indicates a line pole insulator, and I5 indicates a metallic guide member carried by the insulator and having a pair of upwardly extending threaded bolts i6 for receiving nuts I1 to draw the clamping member I3 into engagement with the line conductor I9.

The wrench or tool I0 is shown in engagement with the tube I3, the lower end of which engages one of. the nuts I1.. r

Referring to Fig. 3,'.the wooden pole II cornprisesan elongated wooden member of kiln-dried lumber, preferablyprotected byV insulating varnish and vtested' for its insulating properties at the voltages at which it is to be used.

The length of the pole II depends `upon the voltage of the line on which the pole is to be used. At its upper end the pole II supports the tool iixture I2, which is preferably provided with a cast metal ferrule 2U, having a cylindrical socket 2| adapted to fit on theend of the pole II.

The walls of the socket `2I may have a close frictionalt with the end of the pole, but it is also preferably secured to the pole by means of a pair of transversely extending metal rivets 22 passing through apertures in the opposed walls of the ferrule 23 and through a registering bore in the pole.

.The upperiend of the ferrule is closed by a at end wall 23, which may support a stub shaft 24. The stub shaft 24 may have its upper end threaded at 25 complementarily to the threads 26 carried in the centrally located bore of a cog wheel 21. The cog wheel 21 is similar in construction to the cog wheel 28, later to be mentioned; and it is of such shape that these cog wheels are adapted to mesh so that one may be driven by the other in any of a plurality of angular positions, varying from the vertical position shown in Fig. 4 to an extreme opposite position where the driven shaft 29 extends downward,

These cog wheels are provided with a circular body portion which preferably tapers toward itsv lower end 36, and at the upper end the thickness of the body portion increases, and it is provided with a plurality of regularly spaced axially extendingteeth 3| separated by the tooth spaces 32.

The teeth 3| preferably taper toward their upper and inner edges, and they are roundedon all sides, and they preferably khave a relatively large clearance betweenA the teeth; that is, the grooves4 are preferably larger than the teeth, as it is of no particular `detrimentA to permita little lost motion.

As viewed in Fig. 3, it willbe seen that the teeth 3| extend radially and longitudinally from the body 21 and that they are substantially lobe shaped and thatthey project above the upper end surface 33 of the gear 21 and above the upper end 34 of the shaft 24.l

The gear 21 may be threaded onV the shaft'24 and secured in predetermined' position by means of a key 35 secured in a keyway in the shaft and gear. A steel thrust washer 36 ispreferably interposed between the gear and the housing member 31.

Th-e housing member 31 may" comprise a cast metal member which is formed with a centrally located bore 36 for receiving the cylindrical part of the shaft 24.

The lower part of the'housing 31 at 39 may be substantially cylindrical; but it is preferably providedwith a lateral extension 46, which may be provided with a boref4I for receiving the compression spring 42 and ball 43.

The upper end of the housing 31 is of substantially bell shape and adapted to house the gear 21. At one side of theA upper end of the housing 31 it is provided with a pair of parallel upwardly projecting ears 44, 45 (Fig. 4), which are provided with the transverse aligned bores 46, the axis of which is preferably located substantially tangentially of the pitch circle of the gears, 21, 28.

The other housing member 41 may beefA substantially similar shape, except'that itis-hotprovided with the lateral extensionl 48 for receiving a spring and ball. Thusthe housing'member 41 is bell shaped at its open end`48 (Fig. 4) and it tapers downward and hasa substantially cylindrical shaft bearing portion 49 at itsother end. The shaft 29 may comprise a metal member having a non-circular lower portion which may besquare and of similar shape to the noncircular end portion of the driving member of any socket wrench set. It may be provided with a transverse bore 5I for housing a compression spring 52 and a steel ball 53.

The steel ball is4 retained in plaeeby peening or spinning inward the metal at 54 adjacent the outer end of the bore 5 I.

The ball 53 is adapted to engage the wall of a socket complementary tothe wrench end'5ll so as to retain the shaft 29 in another wrench fitting or socket, such as the tubular socket I3.

The shaft 29 is also provided with the integral radially extending flange 55 serving as a thrust bearing for engaging a steel thrust washer 56, which in turn is engaged by the annular end 51 of the housing member 41.

The housing member 41 has a cylindrical bore 58 for engaging the cylindrical portion 58 of the shaft 23. The upper threaded portion 63 of the shaft 29 is engaged in a threaded bore of the gear 28 and secured against rotation by a key and key-way, indicated at 6 I. v

Another steel thrust washer 62 is preferably interposed between the gear 28 and the inner thrust surface 63 of the housing 41. The housing members 48 and 21 are thus provided with tapered chambers I64, 65 for receiving and housing the major portion of the gears 2l, 28; but the gear teeth 3| project above the outer edge 6'6 of these housing members.

Thus, when the housing members 4are brought into engagement with each other, as they would be in the position of Fig. 4, the gears may be completely enclosed, except for the space between the flanges 44, 45, but the teeth 3| of each gear project into the spaces between the teeth of the other gear.

Each housing member 21, 28 is thus rotatably mounted on its shaft 34 or 29. The housing members are preferably secured together for pivotal movement by the flanges 44, 45, previously mentioned, and the flanges 61, 68 carried by the upper housing member 41.

The ange 68 may be provided with a laterally projecting'cylindrical lug 69 adapted to be rotatably mounted in the bore 46 of the flange 45. The flange `Iilpreferably has a cylindrical bore 1I) for receiving a trunnion member 1I, which is carried by the ange 44.

The trunnion member 1I has a cylindrical'portion for engaging in the bore 16, but its outer end is threaded at 12 for receiving the wing nut 13. Thus the trunnion 60 may be placed in the bore 46, and the trunnion 1I in the bore 10; and when the nut 13 is tightened up, its engagement with the outside of the flange 61 will hold the ange 61 against the ange 44 and the ange 68 against the flange 45.

As previously stated, the axis of the bores 46, 18 yand the trunnions 1I, 66 is preferably substantially tangential to the pitch circle of the two gears. Thus the two housings 21 and 41 may be moved pivotally with respect to each other from the position of Fig. 4 to that. of Fig. 2,'and to many other positions, while theY gears still intermesh with Veach other.

When the parts are in the position of Fig. 1 or Fig. 2, the rotation of the pole Il will cause the shaft 24 to rotate, thus rotating the gear 21, which will mesh with the gear 28 and rotate it in the opposite direction.

' The two housing members 21, 28 are prevented from rotating by the fact that they are not arranged axially with respect to each other, and thus the shaft 29 may be driven by the handle. I I, irrespective of its angular position with respect to the handle.

The wing nut 13 is preferably tightened to .place the driven shaft 26 at the proper angle to the driving shaft or the handle II, and the tool may be used as shown in Fig. 1 for driving nuts or the threaded members on high voltage transmission lines, with perfect safety.

The springs-and the ball 42, 43 serve to place a predetermined friction between the other freely rotatable housing members and the handle Without this friction, if the handle were disposed in horizontal position, the outer end of the Wrench would hang down if it were disposed at i any angle other than the position where it is in a `line with the handle. The friction of the ball `|31 prevents the housings from rotating so freely that the wrench end turns down by gravity. Thus, the handle is adapted to hold the handle in any desired position for application to a member to be driven. It is an aid in positioning the socket as it approaches the nut or other threaded member.

Referring to Fig. 4,this is a modification in which the ferrule 2|) is replaced by a thrust bear* ing flange 14, which supports a universal plate ofthe ty-pe adapted tobe secured toa pole hav-` ing a similar plate.

The plate 15 has a centrally located bore 16 communicating with the outer edge of the plate 15 through a slot 11, and the plate is provided with a multiplicity of radially extending and laterally .projecting lugs 18 separated by spaces 19.

The bore 16 and the slot 11 are used to pass and receive a threaded 'bolt carried by the univer sal flange on a universal pole, which also has similar lugs 18 separated by spaces 19 so that the tool fitting may be applied to any universal pole when constructed as shown in Fig. 4. l

It should, howeverJ inmost instances be secured with its driving shaft 21| extending axially of the universal pole, as otherwise the universal pole would have to describe an aro in rotating the driving shaft. The special advantage of this embodiment is that the tool may be applied to any I gear driven shafts.` 'Ihe construction of thistool may be exactly the same at the upper end as that described in Figs. lto 4, except that the enlargement 40 and the ball and spring 43, 42 are omitted and the housing 80, which is rotatably mounted on the shaft 8|, is provided withan integral laterally projecting arm 82, having an aperture 83 located to be engaged by a plunger 84.

The plunger 84 com-prises the upper armored end of a round Wooden rod B5, which carries a steel or brass sleeve 86 at its upper end. The extreme end may be provided with a substantially frusto-conical point 81, the sleeve 86 being bev,- eled at 88 to be flush with the hust-:conical surface Vso that the end of the plunger 84 is more easily guided into the aperture 83.

The aperture 83 is large enough to embrace the sleeve 86, and when the plunger 84 isin the aperture B3 rotation of the housing 8E) on the shaft 3| is lprevented. The sleeve 86 may be secured in place by a tight frictional fit and by having a transversely extending metal pin B9 passing through it and the wooden rod 85 and projecting laterally at one or both ends from the sleeve 8 to form a stop member. l

The rod 85 is preferably slidably mounted on the Wooden pole by means of a pair of guide members `9|), 9|. These guide members may be similar in shape and construction, but` they are longitudinally spaced on the pole, one being preferably located at the upper end adjacent the ferrule 2B, and the other being located at the lower end adjacent the end of rod 85. As` the length of `the pole is increased, a greater number of guide members may be used.

Each guide 90 or 9| :may consist of acast metal collar formed at one side with a radially extend ing guide portion 92, having -a circular bore 93 for slidably supporting the rod 85. At the side opposite the enlargement 92 the collar 90 is preferably provided With a pair of radially extending lugs 94, 95, which are slightly spaced from each other, but which can be drawn together by means Aof Va screw bolt 96 Ipassing through the apertures 91, 98 and tightened by the nut 99.

The parts of the collar intermediate the lugs 491|, 95 and the enlargement -92 are substantially cylindrical and substantially complementary to the external cylindrical surface of the Wooden pole Thus the collars 90, 9| may be clamped on thewooden pole Il fwith their circular bores 93 in alignment with each other and slidably supporting the rod 85.

At its lower end the rod preferably supports a cast metal thumb piece |00. This thumb .piece consists of a cast metal member which is formed on the side adjacent the Wooden pole il, with a cylindrically curved surface |0|.

The thumb piece may be provided with a centrally located cylindrical bore |02 for receiving the rod 5, with 'a tight frictional nt, and a metal pin |63 passes through apertures in the rod 85 and thumb piece |00. The upper face |04 of the thumb piece |89 may be flat `or of any desired shape, but the lower surface is preferably provided with a concaveA curvature, indicated by dotted lines at |65, forming a depression for fitting the end of the thumb in the beveled lower surface IUE of the thumb piece.

Thus the ngers of the `hand may engage the pole while the end of the thumb conveniently engages the `curved surface |05, and the thumb` may be so arranged that a pressure on the thumb toward the pole cams the thumb piece upward. Y In this motion it is, of course, guided by the cylindrical surface III-I, which slidably engages the pole and by the guides 95, 9|, which slidably engage the rod V85. The lowermost guide 5 9| is` preferably disposed close enough to the thumb piece |50 so that the light coil spring |01, which is coiled on the rod 85,betweenthis guide and the thumb piece |00, is under an initial state of compression when the pin engages the guide 9|). i i

The pin 89 is so located that the point 81 has itsextreme end immediately below the arm 82, when the pin engages the guide 9B. Thus the plunger rod' 35 isconstantly urged to the un` latching position, but it maybe engaged in the aperture 83 by pressing on the thumb piece |89 with the thumb.

The device of Figs. 5 to 8 differs also from the one previously described in that the gears are made of cut steel instead of bronze, as theywere in the device of Figs. l to 4. v.

I desire it to be understood, however, that the gears be made of various different materials, the outl steel being preferred lfrom the point of View of strength.

The housing members of the wrench tool of Fig. 5 also differ from the one previously described in that both trunnions are provided with threaded extensions, and a pair of wing nuts 13 may be employed. Steel thrust washers |91 are interposed betweenthe sides of the housings on the trunnions 60 and 1|. Y

Thus both sides or trunnions may be locked to hold the housing in any predetermined `angular position by means of thelock nuts 13,

In this embodiment the gears havebeen more firmly secured on their respective shafts by pro- -viding a transverse pin Hi8 whichpasses through lis similarly secured on the shaft II3 by a transverse pin H4, and thus the gears are able to transmit a greater force without breakage than they could when secured merely b y a key and key-way. i

It will also be noted that the shafts il! and 63 are longer than the shafts 2li and 29 of the previous embodiment thereby giving a superior bearing surface and reducing 'any tendency t0- Ward binding. The elongated socket sleeve I3 used in rthe previous embodiment is required wherever nuts have an unusually long travel along a bolt, `otherwise a standard socket can be used. i

The operation of the tool is as follows: The

.two housing members 8D and H5 are first secured in. the desired 'angular position so that the Wrench end portion 56 will project in the proper direction to engage with a threaded member, onwhich the tool is to be used, when the operator is holding the handle.

Then the wrench end having been engaged in or on av threaded member, with or without auxiliary ksocket wrenches, the operator may rotate the handle, causing the shaft 8l to rotate, which rotates the gear |09, which rotates the gear IIE andthe shaft IIS. During this motion the two housing members 30 land I I5 would ordinarily be prevented from ,rotation by the fact that the shaft H3 extends at an angle to the shaft Si.

The gears and housings are in a way arranged like a system of planetary gears, but the revolution of the housing under' these conditions is prevented by the operator, who holds the stick and applies onlya rotating force to the stick, while preventing vrevolution of the stick and housings. Y

In the embodiment of Figs. to 8, and when it is desired to secure the'housing xedly to the actuating stick, the operator may press upon` the thumb piece Iilil, locking the housing 30 to the stick by means of the plunger lill.

Then the operator may apply a revolutionary force to the end of the shaft 5i! by causing the stick i l to move in such a direction vas to revolve about the axis of the shaft 5l) to effect a final tighteningaction. With all parts of the stick locked together in this manner, it is possible to apply a greater force to the wrench than can be applied through the gears alone.

It will thus be observed that I have invented an improved tool for transmission lines, comprising a wrench which is adapted to be used for driving threaded members at any of a multiplicity of different angles.

The operator may have the stick arranged at right angles, for example, to the axis of the threaded member, which is to be driven; and by rotating the pole, such threaded members may be loosened or tightened, or handled as desired, in the same manner as they might be handled on the ground, with ordinary socket wrenches; but with perfect safety, although the transmission line is energized. It is not necessary to de-energize the line, and service need not be interrupted.

'I'he present tool has a provision for locking all of its par-ts together so that av still more powerful force can belused than can be applied to the gears alone. V

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is: 1

1. A transmission line tool comprising an elongated insulating handle and a metal tool carried by the end of said handle, said metal tool comprising a pair of bearing members, said bearing members being pivotally secured together, a shaft located in each of said bearing members, one of.

said shafts being xedly secured to said pole, and the other having a non-circular formation at Vits end for service as a wrench, and driving means carried by the adjacent ends of said shafts, whereby the shafts may be driven by said pole irrespective of their angular relation, locking means carried by said pole for locking one of said bearing members to rotate with said pole, and means carried by the bearing member to be engaged by the locking means to lock the bearing member and pole for Unitary rotation.

2. A transmission `line tool comprising an elongated insulating handle and a metal tool carried by the end of said handle, said metal tool comprising a pair of bearing members, said bearing members being pivotally secured together, a shaft located in each of said bearing members, one of said shafts being xedly secured to said pole, and the other having a non-circular formation at its end for service as a Wrench, and driving means carried by the adjacent ends of said shafts,

whereby the shafts maybe driven by said pole irrespective of their angular relation, locking means carried by said pole for locking one of said bearing members to rotate with said pole, said locking means comprising a longitudinally movable plunger having an insulating extension slidably mounted on said pole, and means carried by the bearing member to be engaged by the locking means to lock the bearing member and pole for unitary rotation.

3. In a wrench for high tension lines, the combination of an elongated wooden insulating pole with a wrench tool carried by the end of said pole, said Wrench tool comprising a metal socket member fixedly secured on said pole, said socket member having an axially extending shaft provided with a gear, a housing surrounding said gear and having a-bearing rotatably mounted on said shaft, said housing having a laterally projecting arm, latching means mounted on said pole for engaging said arm and preventing the rotation of said housing, a second housing pivotally mounted on said first housing and having an elongated bearing, a shaft mounted rotatably in said latter bearing and carrying a gear meshing with said first-mentioned gear in a plurality of pivotal positions of said housing, said latter shaft being provided with. a noncircular end portion for use with a socket wrench.

4. In a wrench for high tension lines, the combination of an elongated Wooden insulating pole with a Wrench tool carried by the end of said pole, said wrench tool comprising a metal socket member fixedly secured on said pole, said socket member having an axially extending shaft provided with a gear, a housing surrounding said,

gear and having a bearing rotatably mounted on said shaft, said housing having a laterally projecting arm, latching means mounted on said pole for engaging said arm and preventing the rotation of said housing, a second housing pivotally mounted on said rst housing and having an elongated bearing, a shaft mounted rotatably in said latter bearing and carrying a gear meshing With said first-mentioned gear in a plurality of pivotal positions of said housing, said latter shaft being provided with a non-circular end portion for use with a socket wrench, said arm having an aperture, and said latching means comprising a rod slidably mounted on said pole.

5. In a wrench for high tension lines, the cornbinaton of an elongated wooden insulating pole with a wrench tool carried by the end of said pole, said wrench tool comprising a metal socket member xedly secured on said pole, said socket member having an axially extending shaft provided with a gear, a housing surrounding said gear and having a bearing rotatably mounted on said shaft, said housing having a laterally projecting arm, latching means mounted on said pole for engaging said arm and preventing the rotation of said housing, a second housing pivotally mounted on said rst housing and having an elongated bearing, a shaft mounted rotatably in said latter bearing and carrying a gear meshing with said first-mentioned gear in a plurality of pivotal positions of said housing, said latter shaft being provided with a non-circular end portion for use with a socket wrench, said arm having an aperture, and said latching means comprising a rod slidably mounted on said pole, said rod being carried by guides on said pole, and having a thumb piece at its lower end and spring means for urging said rod out of engagement With said arm.

DAVID C. HUBBARD. 

